Trustees Annual Report (including Directors report) for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees (who are also directors of the Charity for the purpose of the Companies Act) present their Annual Report together with the audited financial statements of Carers’ Support Centre (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the Charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Charity's governing document and the provision of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effected 1 January 2015 as amended).
Since the Charity qualifies as small under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director' Report) Regulations 2013 is not required.
The objective of the charity as stated in the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are principally for the benefit of the community in North Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.
In developing the main objectives for the following year, the Trustees have given regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
The Charity's objectives are;
To promote the relief of the aged, sick, or disabled people in North Lincolnshire and surrounding areas by the provision of such services as shall relieve or alleviate their suffering.
To advance the education of Carers by the provision of training and advice to such persons.
To relieve those Carers who are need by reason of their responsibilities as a Carer.
A Carer shall be defined as a person whose life is, or has been, restricted by the responsibility for the care and well being of aged, sick, and disabled people.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objectives, by the Trustees are;
To bring together members to fulfil the aforesaid objectives.
To gather and disseminate information for members and Carers.
To advise and inform relevant bodies of the needs of Carers.
To promote the setting up of appropriate support systems for Carers.
To organise fund raising activities.
To employ members of staff as appropriate.
Mission statement
Carers' Support Centre is the first choice for Carers, their family, and Commissioners. We are a trusted and respected organisation.
Vision
Carers are valued and can access the help they need to thrive and live the life they choose.
Aims
Raise the profile and importance of Carers across communities
Identify and reach a greater number of Carers
Ensure support to Carers is accessible
Ensure support to Carers is inclusive and makes a positive difference
Sustain and grow a vibrant, supported, inclusive and high performing team
Strengthen our financial sustainability and operational efficiency
Foreword from the Chair
This year has seen a remarkable expansion in terms of service delivery, partnerships, and recognition. As demand continues to grow, we’ve responded with innovation, strengthened systems, and a focus on quality, equity, and sustainability. We remain committed to supporting all unpaid Carers in North and North East Lincolnshire and people living with dementia in North Lincolnshire.
Jan Clift-Williams
Chair, Board of Trustees
Key Highlights
- 8,535 individual Carers supported – a 10% increase year-on-year
- 2,102 new Carers registered – our highest ever, up 7% from last year
- 67,766 direct contacts made with Carers, families, professionals, and communities – an 18% increase
- Carers Trust Quality Mark awarded: “Excellence for Carers”
- £2.47 million in benefits gained for Carers
- 164 hardship grants awarded, totalling £33,925
- 3,587 volunteer hours donated, supporting over 1,000 Carers
- Tender success in North Lincolnshire secures services for five more years
Growing Our Reach and Impact
Our outreach and awareness-raising work has been transformative. We delivered:
- 324 training and awareness sessions for professionals and community groups
- 1,906 hours of outreach in libraries, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, and local events
- New Carers Champions recruited across health, care and community settings
- Active engagement with local employers to create Carer-friendly workplaces
“I had no idea I was entitled to support. The Carers' Support Service opened my eyes and helped me access help I didn't even know existed.”
Strengthening Carer Support
To ensure Carers receive timely and proportionate support:
- Helpline calls, Text messaging and a seven-day service ensure flexible access
- Carer peer support groups met 243 times, supporting 290 individuals
- 1,416 hours of counselling were provided by trained volunteers
- Connecting Communities award for workplace health and wellbeing – the first organisation to achieve this in North East Lincolnshire.
“Having someone to talk to who understands what it’s like to be a Carer made all the difference.”
“Just knowing that someone is there, who actually listens, has helped me cope with daily stresses.”
“Being able to talk to other Carers made me realise I’m not alone — it’s given me hope.”
Hospital-Based Carer Support
The Hospital Carers Project continues to set the standard in integrated Carer support.
- This work led to a 30% increase in hospital-identified Carers.
- Showcased the hospital services at the ADASS Conference
- Collaborated with NLAG and HUTH to highlight how supporting Carers in a hospital setting impacts on the patient, resulting in their faster movement through recovery to discharge.
“You helped me with a crisis I didn’t know how to deal with. I will never forget that.”
Dementia Direct
- 49 dementia café sessions delivered, with 806 attendances (53% increase)
- 1,067 open cases (up from 662 last year)
- 57 Carers attended monthly Dementia Carer Information Groups
- 10 training courses with 102 Carers attending
“Thank you for recognising me as a Carer and making me feel valued.”
Training and Activities
- 182 training events (+42%), attended by 785 Carers (+33%)
- 123 activity events, attended by 984 Carers
- Popular groups included: Tai Chi, Men in Sheds, Art Group, Lunch Club
“The workshops and information sessions are excellent. I always come away feeling more confident and capable.”
Volunteer Contributions
- 3,587 hours volunteered across counselling, befriending, admin, and events
- Supported 1,068 carers; 425 hours of befriending provided
- 43 volunteers celebrated through appreciation events
“It’s the only place I feel like a person, not just a Carer.”
Financial Wellbeing and Hardship Support
- £2.47 million gained for Carers across 635 households
- 164 carers received hardship grants, totalling £33,925
“I’m so grateful for the benefits advice. I wouldn’t have managed without the help they gave me.”
Innovations and New Developments
- New Carer groups launched, therapy services expanded
- Carers Voice launched the first Carers Guide to Services
- Embedding Carers in co-production with services shaped by their voices and informed by their stories
- Responding to local Carer research which highlighted the need for services and support to be delivered locally
“They gave me space and reassurance when I needed it most.”
Organisational Milestones
Awarded the Carers Trust Quality Mark: Excellence for Carers
- Successful tender award to deliver North Lincolnshire services until 2030
- Strategic partnerships expanded
- Carers Voice key partners in reshaping the Carers Needs Assessment
Cash and deposit balances are maintained to be able to meet outgoings and grant obligations.
The financial position of the charity on 31st March 2025 is considered to be satisfactory, with sufficient reserves to meet current commitments.
The charity has a reserves policy which is reviewed on an bi annual basis. The current reserves policy adopted by the Trustees ensures that there are sufficient monies available to cover costs should the Charity have to cease, including redundancy costs. The Trustees are particularly mindful of the need to contain the risk where the Charity cannot meet the payments to which it is committed if the income of the Trust declines.
- Embed new North Lincolnshire service model
- Expand support for younger adult Carers
- Develop a Carers Community Hub in North Lincolnshire
- Launch a triage system across all referral routes
- Increase flexible access to support with WhatsApp messaging, and digital bookings
- Introduce a bespoke digital self-help hub with Bridgit Care
- Expand the Welfare Rights service across North Lincolnshire
Carers’ Support Centre is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 31 March 1998 and amended on 27 December 2012 and 11 January 2023.
Every member of the Charity undertakes to contribute a maximum of £10 in the event of the charity winding up.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The Trustees keep the membership of the board under review and understand the need to have access to a good mix of skills. The Board of Trustees completes an annual skills audit showing that there are no gaps in the expertise of the board. There will be an ongoing focus of ensuring diversity on our board and in our team.
The Articles of Association states that the number of Trustees must not be less than three but shall not be subject to any maximum.
Induction and training of new Trustees
New Trustees undergo induction training, provided by the Chief Executive. The induction includes a discussion about the role and responsibilities of Trustees, the activities, aims and objectives of the Charity, the structure of the organisation, Board of Trustees, general procedures of the organisation. New Trustees are introduced to members of staff and other Trustees, and are provided with the Charity Commissions ‘Roles and Responsibilities of Trustees’, the Articles and Memorandum of Association, the business plan, the latest statutory financial statements, Annual Report, and financial reports provided to the Board of Trustees. Any additional training required by new Trustees will be identified during induction, and may be requested at any point by new and existing Trustees, where it is considered useful to their role as Trustee. Trustees are also invited to attend staff events and activities in order to develop a better all-round understanding of the organisation.
The Board of Trustees manages the Charity, and aims to consider only strategic decisions at its meetings. Trustees are aware that any conflicts of interest are declared and minuted. The Board meets every two months. The Chief Executive is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity, and also has authority to delegate as appropriate to other staff members. Ad-hoc committees are set up when the need arises.
Risk management
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have reviewed those risks and established systems and procedures to manage them. The Trustees have put in place a risk register, and this is reviewed and re-evaluated annually.
Equal Opportunities
In furtherance of the Objects the charity shall at all times take into consideration the principles of equality of opportunity irrespective of age, gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Finnies Accountants Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The past year has tested us, but it has also inspired us. Carers are at the centre of everything we do. With growing demand, tighter funding, and rising complexity, we remain agile, ambitious, and Carer-led.
“The support I received made me feel stronger and less isolated. It’s changed how I feel about myself.”
“The counselling service has been a lifeline — I feel like I can breathe again.”
“It helped me feel like I could carry on. I was close to breaking point before I contacted you.”
“I’ve received more support from you than from any other organisation. Thank you so much.”
“The staff are incredibly kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. I always feel welcome and never judged.”
Thank you to our staff, volunteers, funders, trustees, and – most importantly – to the Carers we work alongside every day.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The charity Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Carers' Support Centre (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Enquiry of management and those charged with government around actual and potential litigation and claims.
Discussions with management and those charged with governance including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.
Understanding and evaluation of the operating effectiveness of management’s entity level controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities.
Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business.
Testing over period end adjustments.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data auditing techniques. However, it typically involves selecting a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing complete populations. We will often seek to target particular items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics. In other cases, we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw a conclusion about the population from which the sample is selected.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Finnies Accountants Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Notwithstanding the above exemption from audit under the Companies Act 2006, these financial statements have been audited under the Charities Act 2011.
Carers' Support Centre is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 11 Redcombe Lane, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, DN20 8AU, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Grants in respect of capital expenditure are credited to the statement of financial activities upon receipt. If the grant is unrestricted a designated fund representing the assets written down value is created. This fund is then reduced over the useful economic life of the asset in line with its depreciation. Grants of a revenue nature which are made to give immediate financial support or to reimburse costs previously incurred are credited to the statement of financial activities in the period in which they become receivable. Grants of a revenue nature which are made to finance general activities of a specific period or to compensate for a loss of current or future income are credited to the statement of financial activities when receivable.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Carers’ Support Centre is a UK registered charity, number 224505. All the Society's income is applied to its charitable objects and the Society is, therefore, exempt under current legislation from most forms of taxation. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the Society and is therefore charged to the statement of financial activities or balance sheet as incurred.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Land and buildings with a carrying amount of £900,000 were revalued at 17 April 2024 by CP Surverying Services, independent valuers not connected with the charity on the basis of market value. The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards and was based on recent market transactions on arm's length terms for similar properties.
At 31 March 2025, had the revalued assets been carried at historic cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, their carrying amount would have been approximately £142,712 (2024 - £146,836).
The revaluation surplus is disclosed in note 17.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.